Oil mogul and philanthropist Tein T.S. Jack-Rich on Wednesday fired a warning shot at “new entrants” in the All Progressives Congress, vowing that legacy members who built the party will not be pushed aside, moments after submitting his expression of interest and nomination forms to contest the Rivers West Senatorial District seat on the APC platform.

“Today, I came to submit my form for expression of interest and nomination for the seat of Senate of Rivers West, Rivers State, because I am from Rivers State,” Jack-Rich told journalists in Abuja after filing his papers at the APC national secretariat. He said the move was driven by a long-standing commitment to the party and a desire to deliver “experienced and effective representation” for his people.

But the businessman quickly pivoted from his ambition to party politics, drawing a line in the sand over internal displacement. “What is important to the party is to continue to recognise and honour legacy members who have been there from inception, while also accommodating new entrants for growth,” he said. Balancing inclusiveness with loyalty, he added: “It is important to hold dearly your biological child while adopting new children. That balance must be maintained.”

Jack-Rich, who claims over 28 years in the oil industry, positioned himself as a foundation pillar of the APC. “I have been one of the key supporters of this party at both the state and national levels. I have supported governors, assembly members, representatives, senators and even presidents, and I will continue to do so,” he said.

His tone hardened as he recalled the party’s early struggles. “We were there when they called us names. I was there when they didn’t believe in us and when they tried to stop us,” he said. “Today that we have a president, some people are coming in hard and trying to push us out. We will not accept it.”

While welcoming the “influx of new members” as good for democratic expansion, Jack-Rich cautioned that it “should not come at the expense of those who built the party.” He added, “These new entrants are welcome, as it is good for the expansion of democracy, but they cannot take everything away.”

Despite the internal warnings, the Rivers-born aspirant struck an optimistic note on his chances. “I am happy to say I have submitted my form, and I am going to work hard for the primaries. I believe strongly that I will win the Senate seat. Rivers West will be great again,” he declared.

Jack-Rich also pitched his professional track record as legislative capital. “I have over 28 years of experience in the oil industry,” he noted, saying the expertise would be an “added advantage in legislative duties,” particularly on energy, Niger Delta development, and economic policy.

With his form now submitted, Jack-Rich enters a Rivers West race expected to test the APC’s ability to manage its old guard and new wave under one tent — a balance he insists the party cannot afford to get wrong.

…demands accountability into past investment of $3.5b for PHC, Warri and Kaduna refineries

A coalition of oil sector reform advocates has criticised the latest agreement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited with Chinese firms to revive Nigeria’s refineries, describing the move as a wasteful recycling of failed strategies and a troubling signal of weak accountability in the management of public resources.

The group, the Centre for Energy Sector Transparency (CEST), made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its executive director, Dr Oghenetega Edafe, following the announcement of a new memorandum of understanding between NNPC Ltd and two Chinese companies for a proposed technical equity partnership.

The agreement is aimed at completing rehabilitation work and restarting operations at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, assets that have remained largely dormant despite multiple rounds of government-funded turnaround maintenance.

Edafe said the development raises serious questions about fiscal discipline, policy coherence, and the absence of accountability for previous investments running into billions of dollars.

“What Nigerians are witnessing is a troubling pattern of policy repetition without reflection. The same refineries that have gulped enormous public funds over the years are once again at the centre of a fresh round of agreements, yet there has been no transparent accounting of what has already been spent or why those investments failed to deliver results,” he said.

The group specifically referenced earlier government approvals of over $1 billion for refinery rehabilitation projects, warning that proceeding with new partnerships without a public audit of past expenditures undermines trust in the system.

“It is unacceptable that after committing over one billion dollars to refinery rehabilitation, the nation is being asked to embrace yet another agreement without a clear and verifiable audit of previous interventions. This is not just about policy failure; it is about the potential erosion of public trust in how national wealth is managed,” Edafe said.

He argued that while the introduction of a technical equity model may appear innovative, it does not absolve the government and NNPC Ltd of responsibility for past inefficiencies and possible mismanagement.

“The idea of bringing in technical partners with equity stakes is not inherently flawed. However, it becomes deeply problematic when it is introduced as a substitute for accountability. Before we speak of new partnerships, Nigerians deserve a full disclosure of how past funds were utilised, who was responsible for project delivery, and why the expected outcomes were not achieved,” he said.

The group also warned that without institutional reforms, the proposed collaboration risks becoming another cycle of investment without sustainable results.

“What is being presented as a strategic shift may, in reality, become another expensive experiment if the underlying governance issues are not addressed. Technical expertise alone cannot fix a system that lacks transparency, oversight, and consequences for failure,” Edafe said.

The Centre called on the National Assembly and relevant anti-corruption agencies to initiate a comprehensive probe of refinery rehabilitation projects over the past decade, including contract awards, disbursements, and project execution timelines.

“This moment demands more than optimism; it demands scrutiny. We call on oversight institutions like the National Assembly, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others to undertake a forensic examination of all funds committed to refinery rehabilitation, including the recent billion-dollar interventions. Nigerians must know what has been done with their resources and why the country is still dependent on fuel imports despite repeated promises of self-sufficiency,” he said.

The Centre added that restoring confidence in Nigeria’s oil sector would require not just new agreements, but a demonstrable commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity.

The advocacy group, Niger Without Borders has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State for a second term, and Senator Mohammed Sani Musa for a third term in the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement was announced on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at a press conference held in Abuja.

In his address, Comrade Hussaini Abubakar described the decision as rooted in performance, policy direction, and measurable outcomes at both federal and state levels.

“After a careful and evidence-based assessment of governance at the federal and subnational levels, Niger Without Borders hereby endorses the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago for a second term, and Senator Mohammed Sani Musa for a third term in 2027,” the group declared.

The statement highlighted President Tinubu’s economic reforms, noting that difficult decisions such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market have begun yielding results.

It cited a narrowing fiscal deficit (from over 5% to around 3% of GDP), strengthening economic growth projections approaching 4.5%, easing inflation from above 30% to the mid-teens, improved external reserves, and higher government revenue.

“These gains did not come without sacrifice. But they have placed Nigeria on a path that is sustainable,” the speech stated, warning that disrupting the current trajectory would amount to regression.

On Governor Bago, popularly known as the “Farmer Governor,” the group praised his focus on agriculture, positioning Niger State as a potential food production hub for Nigeria and West Africa through mechanised farming, irrigation investments, and rural infrastructure development.

“What we are witnessing is a shift from subsistence agriculture to agribusiness. This matters not just for Niger State, but for Nigeria’s food security,” it added.

Senator Mohammed Sani Musa was commended for moving beyond routine representation to strategic legislative influence, including sponsoring bills on employment, infrastructure protection, and institutional reforms, as well as effective committee roles.

The group argued that Nigeria is in a critical consolidation phase of reforms initiated in 2023 and urged citizens to prioritise continuity, stability, and progress over policy disruptions.

“Nations do not progress by constantly restarting their policies. They progress by sustaining and refining them,” the statement emphasised.

The Niger Without Borders called on Nigerians, especially stakeholders in Niger State, to focus on long-term national interest in the 2027 elections.